IMF Podcasts

China's growth is moderating, but it's not all bad. The IMF's most recent thinking on the world's second largest economy.

L'Afrique subsaharienne a parcouru un chemin considérable. Il y a une dizaine d'années, d'aucuns parlaient d'un «continent sans espoir». Aujourd'hui, de nombreux observateurs soulignent la montée en puissance de l'Afrique. Thierry Tanoh partage ses idées sur les perspectives de développement de l'Afrique.

Sub-Saharan Africa has come a long way. Ten years ago, it was labeled the "hopeless continent" by one leading publication, but today, Africa is considered by many as a rising power. In this podcast, Thierry Tanoh, who has just left as Vice president of the International Finance Corporation, shares his insights on the prospects for Africa's development.

Face aux inégalités qui ne cessent de se creuser, il est courant de ne voir que les extrêmes de l'échelle salariale : les grandes fortunes et les gens qui peinent à survivre. Raghuram Rajan, ancien chef économiste du FMI estime que c'est plutôt le déclin des classes moyennes qui doit nous préoccuper.

As the trend towards increasing inequality continues, most attention is focused at the extremes: those who are paid at the top of the pay scale, and others who only manage to scrape by. But a former IMF Chief Economist says we should really be worried about "the missing middle."

How to find the best tortillas while traveling in Mexico? Why is American food so bad today? Is agribusiness good for the global economy? Prolific author, blogger and economist Tyler Cowen takes on these questions--and many more--in his new book, "An Economist Gets Lunch", reviewed in June's F&D; magazine.

La Côte d'Ivoire vient de se voir accorder un allégement de dette de plus de sept milliards de dollars. Cela représente plus de 60 % de la dette extérieure du pays et ouvre des perspectives plus viables pour celui-ci.

Côte d'Ivoire has been granted over seven billion dollars in debt relief. This represents more than 60 percent of the country's external debt, and will help create a more sustainable future.

In California, a prisoner can pay to upgrade his cell, women are paid to carry a pregnancy, businesses pay to advertise on people's bodies. Is this moral? Sandal believes we need to prevent market values from reaching spheres of life where they don't belong.

Martin Wolf, columnist for the Financial Times and contributor to the Occupy Handbook, explains the challenges to reforming the economic system.

From the jammed streets of Beijing, China, to the conflicts in the Mideast and on Capital Hill, the quest to secure energy supplies has shaped global politics and economics, says one of the world's leading energy experts.

Pourquoi certains pays sont-ils riches et d'autres, pauvres? Pour James Robinson, la richesse d'un pays est liée avant tout à la mesure dans laquelle le citoyen moyen a la possibilité de bénéficier de la croissance économique globale du pays. Mais, précise-t-il, il y a toujours des minorités soucieuses d'accaparer le pouvoir et la richesse.

Why are some countries rich and others poor? James Robinson argues that the wealth of a country is most closely tied to how far the average person is able to share in its overall economic growth. But he warns that there is always a tendency for a small minority to try and concentrate power and wealth in its hands.

Over the past decade, oil prices have increased fourfold, reaching levels only seen in the 1970's. But the global economy has been resilient in the face of these spikes. Jorg Decressin of the IMF research department explains.

Durant la dernière décennie, les cours du pétrole ont quadruplé, atteignant des niveaux jamais vus depuis les années 70. L'économie mondiale s'est toutefois montrée résiliente face à l'envolée des cours. Éclairage de Jorg Decressin du Département des études du FMI.

Après une longue période de troubles sociaux, la Guinée renoue avec la stabilité politique. Selon le FMI, en 2012 le taux de croissance du PIB devrait se situer à 4,7 %. Malgré des perspectives favorables, la Guinée reste aux prises avec un niveau élevé d'inflation et de déficit. Le Ministre des Finances guinéen explique son programme économique pour les années à venir.

In the June issue of Finance and Development we review "The Occupy Handbook". In this podcast, one of the contributors to the book explains why inequality is at the heart of the global crisis.

Dans la dernière édition des Perspectives économiques régionales pour l'Afrique subsaharienne, le FMI explique la solide croissance que connaît la région par le fait qu'elle soit relativement isolée des facteurs négatifs qui plombent l'économie de beaucoup d'autres pays.

Despite the weaker global economic environment, sub-Saharan Africa is expected to continue growing strongly in 2012, according to the IMF. In its latest Regional Economic Outlook for Africa, the IMF says the region's robust growth is because it is relatively isolated from negative factors pulling down many other countries.

Foreign Direct investment has been booming globally. In 2007 it reached a peak of $2 trillion. Money from Brazil, Russia, India and China to low-income countries—especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa—is flowing especially quickly, fueling growth and development.

Après des années de conflit, la plus grande économie d'Afrique de l'Ouest se tourne vers l'avenir avec des politiques revigorées. Entretien avec Charles Koffi Diby, Ministre des finances.

Après une tumultueuse année , le Burkina Faso doit maintenant affronter les retombées humanitaires du conflit malien sur son territoire, ainsi qu'une une légère crise alimentaire tout en naviguant un contexte économique mondiale difficile. Le ministre des finances Burkinabé, Lucien Bembamba, nous explique comment le pays va de l'avant.

Nigeria's charismatic finance minister talks about Nigeria's vigorous growth, the reforms Africa needs to continue powering ahead, and that failed bid for the World Bank presidency.

Last week, to coincide with the IMF's regular World Economic Outlook, we reported on the slowly improving prospects for the global economy. This week we look beyond the headlines and analyze how a potential increase in oil prices, large household debt, or volatile commodity prices could derail the fragile recovery. Rebecca Kaufman reports.

Earlier this week, we heard from IMF experts about their expectations for the world economy. Now, with the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in full gear, we asked journalists from around the world for views from their region. What does state of the global economy look like, and what do they see are the biggest risks out there?